Job Description

We are an ambitious and successful research-intensive University (one of the top 100 research-led universities globally) and have produced 10 Nobel Prize winners, including three who received their awards in 2016. Academics here are tackling some of the world’s most pressing global challenges such as: antibody testing and Covid-19, the impact of climate change on our woodlands and forests, issues caused by migration and displacement, the rise in youth mental health issues, and the prevention of needless maternal deaths in the developing world. Our students come from nearly 150 countries and our flagship outreach programmes mean that almost 25% of our student population come from disadvantaged backgrounds, one of the highest proportions in the UK. 

Philanthropy has always played an important role in shaping the University, in 2015 we closed the Circles of Influence Campaign which raised £193 million, making it the largest HE fundraising campaign outside Oxbridge and London. 

In 2019 we launched the Birmingham In Action campaign, which aims to transform lives for our generation and the next by tackling some of the world’s greatest challenges. The campaign is truly global (having launched in Birmingham, London, Hong Kong, New York and San Francisco) and aims to raise £400 million, and secure 1 million hours of volunteering, making it one of the largest campaigns in the UK Higher Education sector.

The Donor Experience Manager role is your opportunity to join our established team at an exciting time. Stewardship and donor engagement are vital activities to the success of any philanthropic campaign helping us to bring the impact of donations to life. In doing so, donors are encouraged to continue their giving, and to increase and diversify their support. This role will also oversee the management of several of our giving circles as well as being responsible for thanking content and impact reports. 

Although the role sits within the major giving space the Donor Experience Manager will lead the programme of activity from planning to implementation, supporting all areas of fundraising and actively collaborating with our Insight, Campaign Management, Communications and Events Teams at every opportunity, as well as building internal connections across the University to delivery donor engagement activity. 

The successful candidate will have a real passion for stakeholder management, outstanding communication skills with experience in writing for impact, leading on creating digital content, and an understanding of the needs and expectations of different audiences. They will be able to balance creativity and imagination with a structured, thoughtful and organised approach to their work and importantly manage upwards as well as matrix working across the office.